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Preakness Odds Change after Post Position Draw

Dave Friedman

by Dave Friedman in Horse Racing News

Updated Apr 9, 2020 · 11:21 AM PDT

Bob Baffert
Trainer Bob Baffert has won the Preakness Stakes seven times and seeks number eight with Improbable on Saturday. Photo by Jlvsclrk (wikimedia commons).
  • The field is set for Saturday’s Preakness Stakes
  • Improbable is the early favorite
  • Four contenders saw their odds drop following the post position draw on Wednesday

Thirteen horses are slated to contest the Preakness Stakes on Saturday in Baltimore (May 18). Following Wednesday’s post-position draw, several horses saw their odds improve, including favorite Improbable who went from 5/2 to 2/1.

Though Kentucky Derby-winner Country House, and first-across-the-line-but-disqualified Maximum Security will not run in Baltimore, it appears the field is a competitive one.

We have the latest odds below, and to get a feel for how opinions are shifting, keep an eye on our 2019 Preakness odds tracker.

2019 Preakness Stakes Odds

Horse Odds
Improbable +200
War of Will +300
Alwaysmining +600
Anothertwistafate +700
Bourbon War +800
Owendale +1000
Warriors Charge +1200
Win Win Win +1200
Signalman +1400
Bodexpress +1800
Laughing Fox +2000
Market King +3300
Everfast +5000

Odds taken 05/16/19.

The Favorite: Improbable, Gate 4

Improbable had the best result of any of the horses returning from the Kentucky Derby to run in the Preakness.

After going off as the 4/1 favorite in the Derby, and crossing the line fifth (placed fourth through disqualification), Improbable is the reasonable chalk here.

He is now being ridden by Hall of Famer Mike Smith, and trainer Bob Baffert has won the Preakness seven times.

Improbable was the favorite in Kentucky in large part thanks to starting his career three for three, and finishing a close second against good competition in his two Derby tuneups.

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Top Challenger: War of Will, Gate 1

Going off at a shade under 17/1 at the Kentucky Derby, War of Will broke from the rail and was in position to make a run down the stretch. But he was forced out and then checked when Maximum Security blocked his path. He will once again start from the inside at the Preakness, which saw his odds take a bit of a tumble after the draw.

He beat Country House in the Risen Star Stakes in February. But there is a real question about how much gas he had in the tank even if he hadn’t been interfered with in Louisville.

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A Viable Longshot: Bourbon War, Gate 2

It is hard to observe in the moment, but each year a different path to the Kentucky Derby produces the best horses. Recently that has been the major California prep races, but this year it seems like Florida had the top racing.

Maximum Security made all four of his starts at Gulfstream Park before looking so good at the Kentucky Derby.

Bourbon War has the benefit of fresh legs, having not run since March’s Florida Derby, and three solid appearances in Florida since the start of 2019. He was fourth at the Florida Derby, and second behind Code of Honor in the Fountain of Youth Stakes.

His dad, Tapit, has been the leading sire in North America three times.

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